Defying the unanimous advice of government officials, land owners, and bankers to plant tobacco at Barboursville, Gianni Zonin -- 6th generation heir to a family wine enterprise active since 1821 in the Veneto -- acquired this plantation in 1976 with the seemingly ridiculous expectation of creating a vineyard. Jefferson had attempted this, persistently into the 19th Century at Monticello, always failing to achieve a single harvest.
In 2006, on the occasion of celebrating the winery’s 30th anniversary as “setting the standard” for a region now populated by more than 100 vineyards, Gianni and Silvana Zonin opened a new wine museum at Barboursville, looking back upon centuries of Italian viticulture, and a barrel aging room for Octagon, where the history of their creation of the estate that gave birth to a new wine region is laid out upon the walls in illustrated chapters, culminating in the validation of Octagon, itself, as the crowning achievement of Virginia viticulture.
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Defying the unanimous advice of government officials, land owners, and bankers to plant tobacco at Barboursville, Gianni Zonin -- 6th generation heir to a family wine enterprise active since 1821 in the Veneto -- acquired this plantation in 1976 with the seemingly ridiculous expectation of creating a vineyard. Jefferson had attempted this, persistently into the 19th Century at Monticello, always failing to achieve a single harvest.
In 2006, on the occasion of celebrating the winery’s 30th anniversary as “setting the standard” for a region now populated by more than 100 vineyards, Gianni and Silvana Zonin opened a new wine museum at Barboursville, looking back upon centuries of Italian viticulture, and a barrel aging room for Octagon, where the history of their creation of the estate that gave birth to a new wine region is laid out upon the walls in illustrated chapters, culminating in the validation of Octagon, itself, as the crowning achievement of Virginia viticulture.
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ChipDWood(hide)

Recently awarded the top prize at the Virginia Governor's Cup. Significant oak aging offers strong structure. VERY firm, but not overpoweringly tannic. Would love to see how this develops with age.
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Tasted alongside their 2009 Merlot and preferred the Merlot at first, but while I didn't love the thinner body and strong black licorice notes of this Cab...I find myself still thinking fondly of it a week later.
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